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WHAT DEWEY DID 

A BRIEF HISTORY 

OF THE 

HERO OF MANILA 

" Corono veniet delectis. 



PRICE, TEN CENTS 



*tf "^ •J* 

D. T. MALLETT, Publisher 

No. 89 Chambers Street 

New York 

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BY 

D. T. MALLETT 
NEW YORK 



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Tyf ONTPELIER, Vermont, has the happy 
1 A- distinction of being the birthplace of 
the most distinguished naval com- 
mander the world has ever known. 

On December 26, 1837 — 200 years after his 
first Colonial ancestor landed in America — 
George Dewey was born in the old Colonial 
home on State street, opposite the State 
House. 

Wordsworth wrote : "The child is father of 
the man," and of Dewey it is said that as an 
infant he showed an inborn taste for the sea. 

Tradition tells us that at the tender age of 
five months he could put a sailor's slip-noose 
in his bib-strings, and his nurse noticed with 
surprise that no matter how hard she rocked 
him he never showed signs of seasickness. 
This is gravely reported to have surprised her, 
because the first words he uttered were 
"Heave yo!" 



As a schoolboy he early developed sufficient 
courage to attempt the joyful task called in 
New England "licking the teacher." It seems, 
however, that he met with defeat, for after the 
combat the teacher took him home to his 
father with the remark: ''Here is George, 
somewhat the worse for wear, but still in con- 
dition for school work." 

The historian of those days informs us that 
George soon became the best scholar in the 
school, and that under his inspiration the 
Montpelier district school became famous for 
studious and orderly attendance. 

In later years, when Dewey had become a 
lieutenant in the navy, he met his bo3'hood 
-teacher and said: "I shall never cease to be 
grateful to you for that thrashing you gave 
me in Montpelier ; you made a man of me." 

After the resources of the district school 
and academy had been exhausted he attended 
the Norwich University, where he was trained 
in preparation for the West Point Military 
Academy. His father, the village physician, 
wished him to be fitted for an army life, and 
gave him this advice: "Never fight; but when 



you do, fight for all you are worth." Ameri- 
cans will always owe a debt of gratitude to 
that father. 

They will also kindly remember that he 
yielded to the boy's inclination for the sea and 
permitted him to forego the army training, 
using his influence to secure an appointment 
to the Naval Academy at Annapolis, which he 
entered on September 23, 1854. 

There were fourteen in the graduating class 
of 1858: Cadet Dewey stood fifth in the class. 



•|* •!• »|* 



II. 

On April 19, 1861, one week after Fort 
Sumter was fired on, Lieutenant Dewey was 
commissioned and assigned to duty on the 
war sloop "Mississippi," commanded by Me- 
lancthon Smith. 

The "Mississippi" belonged to what was 
styled the Western Gulf blockading squadron, 
which was stationed, in March, 1862, at the 
mouth of the Mississippi River, under com- 
mand of Captain David C. Farragut. 

The following month Farragut's squadron 
moved up the river in single line, the "Mis- 
sissippi" being third. The vessels steamed 
slowly, with their black hulls at regular inter- 
vals sheeting the air with lurid fire, as they 
replied to the forts. Where the fire was hot- 
test they drew in so close that the gunners 
afloat and the Confederate gunners ashore 
heartily cursed each other as they worked the 
machines of destruction. 



The Confederate ram "Manassas" had fol- 
lowed the Union fleet, but was fired upon by 
the "Mississippi" with such good effect thather 
commander ran her ashore to give his crew an 
opportunity to escape. In this battle Lieuten- 
ant Dewey had the satisfaction of making a 
complete wreck of the rebel ram "Manassas." 

On the night of March 14, 1863, Com- 
mander Farragut made the attempt to block- 
ade the Mississippi River at the bend near 
Port Hudson. The steamship "Mississippi" 
grounded and it became impossible to get the 
ship afloat. Captain Smith gave the order to 
throw the guns overboard, but it was not 
done, for the enemy's fire was becoming so 
rapid and severe that the captain deemed it 
judicious to abandon the ship at once in order 
to save the lives of the men. 

The sick and wounded were lowered into 
boats and conveyed to the shore, while the 
men at the battery continued to fire at every 
flash of the enemy's guns. The ship was then 
set on fire in four places, and when the flames 
were well under way, so as to make her de- 
struction certain, the captain and Lieutenant 



Dewey left the ship, all the officers and crew- 
having been landed before. 

A marine who was on the "Mississippi" re- 
lates that Lieutenant Dewey was too unselfish 
to think only of himself when any of his com- 
rades were in danger. Not far from him he 
espied a seaman who was trying to keep 
afloat, his right arm being paralyzed by a bul- 
let. Dewey, who was a bold, powerful swim- 
mer, struck out for him and held him up until 
they reached a floating spar, when the wound- 
ed marine was safely towed ashore. 

In the engagement of the "Mississippi" at 
Port Hudson Lieutenant Dewey is reported 
having been the coolest man on the ship. As 
an illustration of his quick wit in time of dan- 
ger, it is related that on his own responsibility 
he ordered the crew to whitewash the decks, so 
that the gunners could better see the running 
gear of the guns, the attack being at night. 
Such an order ha<l never before been given to 
the crew of a man-of-war. 



III. 

At the beginning of 1864 Lieutenant Dewey 
was appointed executive officer of the gun- 
boat "Agawam," of the North Atlantic block- 
ading squadron. The "Agawam" was aiding 
General Grant in his manceuvres near City 
Point and Petersburg, Virginia, and braved 
the dangers of the battle, besides the sunken 
torpedoes placed by the rebels in the river. 

The chief engineer of the "Agawam," Clark 
Fisher, had secured a furlough, and Lieuten- 
ant Dewey asked him to do a service for him 
when he arrived north. Fisher, in relating 
the incident, reports the conversation as fol- 
lows : 

" 'Fisher, you know I don't like to trouble 
anybody, but I do want you to do me a favor 
if you will when you get north.' 

" 'Now,' said I, 'what is it, old man?' 

" 'You see, Fisher,' said he, 'a fellow corked 
up here like a mouse in a trap hasn't much use 



for money, and I have saved a little. It has 
been rattling around in my trunk for several 
months doing nobody any good, and I want to 
get it to my father ; he might invest it for me, 
and when I need it it may amount to some- 
thing. I thought that it might not be too 
much trouble for you to take it to the old gen- 
tleman while you are up in his neighborhood. 
I'd mail it, but you know that under the pres- 
ent circumstances it would probably never 
reach him.' 

" 'Probably not,' I answered, 'and if I can 
get it to him I shall be very glad to do so.' 

"Dewey pulled a roll of money out of his 
pocket and counted it. 'There's four hundred 
dollars, even,' said he; 'it isn't much, but it 
will come in handy if a fellow is ever laid up.' 

"He handed me the money, and I tucked it 
away in an inside pocket of my coat, along 
with some money of my own. The next day 
I started for home. On the way our train was 
held up by a band of guerrillas. I tried to es- 
cape, but one of the thieves caught me by the 
coat tails. The coat that he had hold of was a 
trifle loose for me, and I slipped out of it, leav- 



ing it in the hands of the guerrilla, jumped for 
the bushes and made my escape. The fellow 
sent a bullet after me, but he was probably too 
astonished to take good aim. When I reached 
a point where I felt that I was safe, I sat down 
and thought the situation over. It occurred 
to me for the first time then that Dewey's 
money had gone with the coat. I regretted it, 
of course, but I didn't feel like going back and 
making an effort to get it. My own money 
went along with it. The money was never in- 
vested for Dewey, but I guess he has man- 
aged to get along pretty well without it." 

Lieutenant Dewey was promoted to the 
rank of lieutenant-commander on March 3, 
1865, on board the victorious "Kearsarge," 
where he remained until the close of the war, 
and then took charge of the flagship of the 
European squadron, the steam frigate "Colo- 
rado." 

Those who cruised under him say he was 
one of the kindest officers to the men forward 
who ever commanded a ship. They refer to 
his tenderness of heart, of his toleration and 
reluctance to punish petty offenders. At the 



same time he maintained absolute discipline 
aboard, and to serious offenders he was a ter- 
ror. He particularly and heartily despised a 
liar. Thus it naturally resulted that his loyal 
crews loved and respected him, and followed 
eagerly in the path of duty and peril at their 
country's call. 

The acting ensign on the "Colorado" with 
Lieutenant-Commander Dewey said of him : 

"He was smarter than chain lightning, 
quick, passionate, and always demanded per- 
fect discipline of his men. He never would 
have a drunkard near him, and any man found 
in the least bit intoxicated aboard ship was 
dealt with in the severest manner. Always 
kind-hearted, Dewey was respected, not only 
by his superiors, but by the men under him." 



*|* *|* 



IV. 

In 1867 Lieutenant-Commander Dewey was 
assigned to duty at the Kittery Navy Yard at 
Portsmouth, N. H. Here he met and married 
during the same year Miss Susan B. Goodwin, 
daughter of the War Governor of New Hamp- 
shire. She died five years later. 

On April 13, 1872, he was promoted to the 
rank of commander in charge of the "Narra- 
gansett," and sailed early in the following 
year for the Pacific Coast, where he remained 
for some years in the survey service, and later 
commanded the "Juniata" at the Asiatic sta- 
tion until his appointment as captain of the 
"Dolphin" of the original "White Squadron," 
on September 27, 1884. 

On February 28, 1896, he was raised to the 
rank of commander, having in the meantime 
served four years as the chief of the Bureau 
of Equipment and Recruiting at Washington, 
and a member of the Lighthouse Board. In 



January, 1898, he was placed in command of 
the Asiatic station. 

Commodore Dewey in 1897 wai thus de- 
scribed by a writer for the press : 

"He is of medium height, and slender, with 
just the suspicion of a stoop. His dark eyes 
are large and piercing, his face has the clear- 
cut firmness of the man of the world. His 
dress is immaculate and always in the mode. 
He is a clubman, and likes society, but he is 
not a story-teller or a wit. He is rather a well- 
bred gentleman who has seen much of the 
world, and who combines a fondness for the 
company of his fellows with a gentleman's re- 
serve and poise." 

The long drawn-out friction with Spanish 
rule in Cuba, and the agitation of the possi- 
bilties of war, were at this time reaching a 
crisis, although its actual occurrence was not 
generally apprehended. 



»^ »|i» »•• 



V. 

Theodore Roosevelt, now Governor of New 
York, was at that time Assistant Secretary of 
the Navy, and on his advice Commodore 
Dewey was appointed to take command of the 
Asiatic Squadron. One of the members of the 
Naval Council is said to have exclaimed : 
"Dewey ! Dewey is a dude." 

"What of it?" replied Roosevelt. 

"Why, you are the last man I should expect 
to want to advance a dude." 

"I didn't want to advance him," said Mr. 
Roosevelt. "I'll leave that to you afterward. 
All I want is a man over there, some fellow 
who will fight and make war. I don't care 
what kind of a collar he wears ; that is, so long 
that it is some kind of a linen collar." 



At a farewell dinner given Commodore 
Dewey the following verses were read : 

"Fill all your glasses full to-night; 

The wind is off the shore ; 
And be it feast or be it fight. 

We pledge the Commodore. 

"Through days of storm, through days of calm, 
On broad Pacific seas," 
At anchor off the isles of Palm, 
Or with the Japanese ; 

"Ashore, afloat, on deck, below, 
Or where our bulldogs roar; 
To back a friend or breast a foe 
We pledge the Commodore. 

"We know our honor'll be unstained 
Where'er his pennant flies ; 
Our ri,ghts respected and maintained, 
Whatever power defies." 



«\f* «$• >$/• 



VI. 

On January 3, 189S, Commodore Dewey 
raised his flag on the "Olympia" at Hong 
Kong. On February 20 he received the fol- 
lowing dispatch from Roosevelt : 

"Keep full of coal. In the event of a decla- 
ration of war with Spain your duty will be to 
see that the Spanish squadron does not leave 
the Asiatic coast, and then offensive opera- 
tions in Philippine Islands." 

On ]^Iarch 22, thirty-four days after the 
destruction of the "Maine" at Havana, the 
"Baltimore," loaded down with ammunition 
and coal, left Honolulu, and made all possible 
speed to Hong Kong — and Dewey. Here 
the supplies were transferred to his squad- 
ron, and preparations completed for the events 
which were to follow at Manila. 

The Queen of Spain declared war against 
the United States on April 24, 1898. A bill 
was passed by our Congress that the war be- 



gan April 21, and Commodore Dewey, at 
Hong Kong, was cabled to capture or destroy 
the Spanish war ships at Manila. 

On April 24 Commodore Dewey, at Hong 
Kong, received the following dispatch from 
the Navy Department at Washington : 

"War has been commenced between the 
United States and Spain. Proceed at once 
to the Philippine Islands. Commence opera- 
tions at once, particularly against Spanish 
fleet. You must capture vessels or destroy. 
Use utmost endeavors." 

On April 27 Commodore Dewey left for 
Manila with his fleet, consisting of the 
cruisers "Olympia," "Baltimore," "Raleigh," 
"Boston" and "Concord," the gunboat "Pet- 
rel," dispatch boat "McCuUock" and two col- 
liers. 



•^ »$• •$• 



VII. 

The Spanish fleet assembled at Manila un- 
der command of Admiral Montojo consisted 
of the cruisers "Reina Christina," "Castilla," 
"Velasco," "Don Juan de Austria," "Don An- 
tonio de Ulloa," "Isla de Cuba" and "Isla de 
Luzon," and a score of gunboats, torpedo 
boats, transports, etc. At Manila, in anticipa- 
tion of the impending naval battle, the Gover- 
nor-General, Augustin, issued the following 
bombastic proclamation : 

"The American people, composed of all the 
social excrescences, have exhausted our pa- 
tience and provoked war with perfidious ma- 
chinations, acts of treachery, and outrages 
against the law of nations and international 
conventions. 

"A squadron, manned by foreigners and 
possessing neither instructions nor discipline, 
is preparing to come to this archipelago with 



the ruffianly intention of robbing us of all that 
means life, honor and liberty. 

"The aggressors shall not profane the tombs 
of your fathers, shall not gratify their lustful 
passion at the cost of your wives and 
daughters, shall not cover you with dishonor, 
shall not appropriate the property your indus- 
try has accumulated as provision against old 
age, and shall not perpetrate any of the crimes 
inspired by their wickedness and covetousness, 
because your valor and patriotism will suffice 
to punish this miserable people." 

The Spanish authorities at Manila were ad- 
vised by cable, by their allies in Hong Kong, 
of the departure of Commodore Dewey's fleet. 
The wealthier residents of Manila, becoming 
cognizant of the impending danger, quickly 
gathered their portable property on board 
merchant vessels, while those who could not 
depart were in a condition of great alarm 
through their lack of confidence in the Span- 
ish army and navy. 

Meanwhile Dewey's fleet was coming to- 
wards Manila, and the Spanish fleet was 
cruising about the bay waiting to destroy 



what they sarcastically styled "the cowardly 
Yankee pigs." 

Early on the morning of April 30 the shore 
of Luzon was sighted by Commodore Dewey, 
and the cruisers were cleared for action, nets 
being stretched around the ships to reduce 
the danger of flying splinters, while chains 
were coiled around the ammunition hoists. It 
is interesting to note that this device for pro- 
tecting a vulnerable point was successfully 
used by Dewey when in command of the 
"Kearsage" during our Civil War. 

About 2 P. M. on April 30 the American 
fleet reached a bay on the coast forty miles 
north of Manila. Later that afternoon Com- 
modore Dewey gave orders for the fleet to "lie 
to," to avoid appearing before Manila by day- 
light, and informed his commanding officers 
that he intended to enter Manila Bay during 
that night. 

At II P. AL the American fleet arrived at 
the mottth of Manila Bay and turned in, 
Dewey's flagship, the "Olympia," leading, and 
the "Baltimore," "Raleigh," "Petrel," "Con- 
cord" and "Boston" following in the order 
named. 



No lights were shown except one at the 
stern, to guide the vessel next in line. There 
was a half moon, and the night was light 
enough to make it a risky matter to run 
through a channel that was commanded by 
batteries and supposed to be laid with mines. 
Not an officer in tlie squadron had been in 
the bay before, and the navigation of the fleet 
was an exceedingly responsible and perilous 
duty. 

Slowly and cautiously the fleet pursued its 
dangerous course into Manila Bay, passing 
the batteries of Corregidor Island, when a 
rocket went up from the island, and the Span- 
ish battery on El Fraile opened fire. The rear 
cruiser, "Boston," passed in close to the bat- 
tery, and pounded it until it was silenced. 

Untouched by a single shot, the fleet slowly 
continued its advance towards the city of Ma- 
nila, then about twenty miles distant. In the 
meantime the gun crews were relieved, and 
at 4 A. M. coffee and hard tack were served. 
An hour later the fleet was opposite the city, 
and in the early morning light it was dis- 
covered that there were no Spanish men-of- 
war in the port. 



It was discovered that the Spanish fleet was 
lined up for battle at Cavite, seven miles down 
the bay from Manila, where were located the 
most formidable of the Spanish naval arsenals 
and earthworks. These works had been 
strengthened by the addition of several mod- 
ern guns, while the forts and batteries on the 
north and south were in readiness to annihi- 
late Dewey's fleet. 

The crucial moment was at hand. In the 
same order as before the American cruisers 
proceeded towards the enemy's vessels. 



•f* »!• 



VIII. 

Standing on the deck of the "Olympia," 
Commodore Dewey sighted Admiral Monto- 
jo's flag floating over the "Reina Christina," a 
steel cruiser of 3,500 tons, which fired the first 
shot of the naval engagement at half-past five. 
The "Olympia" was then at a distance of 
about three miles, and Commodore Dewey 
gave the order to the commaifder of the flag- 
ship to commence the battle in the following 
deliberate words : 

"You may fire, Gridley, when ready." 
All of the ships of both the American and 
Spanish fleets now fired every gun they could 
bring to bear on their opponents. The bat- 
teries on the shore let loose their powerful 
shells, capable of reaching a distance of five 
miles, and a mask of smoke and fire settled 
down upon the waters of the beautiful Bay 
of Manila, through which the early morning 
sun could scarcely penetrate. 



Two of the Spanish torpedo boats dashed 
forward to attack the "Olympia," but the 
American gunners sunk one, and the otlier 
was driven disabled ashore. 

For two hours seventy Spanish guns were 
fired at Dewey's fleet, which was within 
easy range, but so defective was their opera- 
tion that not a single man was killed, and 
only one of their shells hit the American ships, 
and that did no serious damage. 

The Spaniards fought with the courage 
which desperation inspires, and on the flag- 
ship, "Reina Christina," the guns were fired 
until but two of the gunners remained unhurt. 

Shortly after 8 o'clock, on that eventful 
morning in American history, the Spanish 
fleet was practically wrecked, and Dewey or- 
dered his ships to stop firing, and withdrew 
out of the range of the shore batteries for a 
period of rest. 

Three hours later Commodore Dewey re- 
turned. Before one o'clock the Spanish ships 
were entirely wrecked and sunk, the shore bat- 
teries destroyed, Spain's one-time formidable 
arsenal hauled down its flag, and the Hero 



of Manila led his uninjured fleet again to- 
wards Manila, the capital of the Philippine 
Islands — founded in the year 1571. 



•f" »!• »§• 



IX. 

As a writer stated, when the news of the 
remarkable victory first reached us: "That 
this Httle squadron could steal into Manila 
harbor and fight not only eleven war ships, 
but the shore fortifications as well, destroy- 
ing the entire Spanish squadron, killing or 
wounding seven or eight hundred men, and 
come out with hardly a scratch, under terrific 
fire, as they were, is one of the marvels of the 
world. And yet ten times more marvelous is 
the fact that on these boats of ours not a man 
was killed, and only half a dozen or so slightly 
injured. There have been fiercer fights, but 
none with so big a victory at so little cost. 

"Dewey is a modest, unassuming man, with 
a business head on his shoulders. He has 
waited a long time for his opportunity. When 
it came Ke was ready for it — the man for the 
hour. 

"It was as a young lieutenant in the Gulf 



that lie mastered the lessons which five and 
thirty years later made possible the victory of 
Manila." 

As the enemy had control of the cable sta- 
tions near Manila, Commodore Dewey sent 
the dispatch boat "McCullock" to Hong 
Kong, from whence the following first 
official information of the battle reached 
Washington : 

"Manila, May i. — The squadron ar- 
rived at Manila at daybreak this morning. 
Immediately engaged the enemy and de- 
stroyed the following Spanish vessels : 
■Reina Christina,' 'Castilla,' 'Ulloa,' 'Isla de 
Cuba,' 'Isla de Luzon,' the 'Duero,' 'Cor- 
reo,' 'Velasco,' 'Mindanao,' one transport, 
and the water battery at Cavite. The squad- 
ron is uninjured, and only a few men were 
slightly wounded. The only means of tele- 
graphing is to the American consul at Hong- 
Kong. I shall communicate with him. 

"Dewey." 

The reply from Secretary of the Navy Long 
was : 



^ 




< 

a, 

o 
in 



Washingtox, Jvlay 7, i8yS. 
"Dewey, Manila : 

"The President, in the name of the .\nitri- 
can people thanks you and your oflficers and 
men for your splendid achievement and over- 
whelming victory. 

"In recog-nition he has appointed you act- 
ing admiral, and v.ill recommend a vote of 
thanks to von bv Contrress. LoNr,." 



•4» •S» ^* 



X, 

President McKinley, on the gtli of May, 
sent the following message to the Congress : 
"To THE Congress of the UxMted States: 

'"On the 24th of April I directed the Secre- 
tary of the Navy to telegraph orders to Com- 
modore George Dewey, of the United States 
Navy, commanding the Asiatic squadron, 
then lying in the port of Hong Kong, to pro- 
ceed forthwith to the Philippine Islands, there 
to commence operations and engage the as- 
sembled Spanish fleet. Promptly oheying that 
order the United States squadron, consisting 
of the flagship 'Olympia,' 'Baltimore,' 
'Raleigh,' 'Boston,' 'Concord' and 'Petrel,' 
with the revenue cutter 'McCullock' as an 
auxiliary despatch boat, entered the harbor of 
Manila at daybreak on the ist of May, and 
immediately engaged the entire Spanish fleet 
of eleven ships, which were under the protec- 
tion of the fire of the land forts. After a 



stubborn fight, in whicli the enemy suftered 
great loss, their vessels were destroyed or 
completely disabled, and the water battery at 
Cavite silenced. Of our brave officers and 
men not one was lost, and only eight injured, 
and those slightly. All of our ships escaped 
any serious danger. 

"By the 4th of May Commodore Dewey had 
taken possession of the naval station at Cavite, 
destroying the fortificatioiis there and at the 
entrance of the bay, and patroling their gar- 
risons. The waters of the bay are under his 
complete control. He has established hospi- 
tals within the American lines, where 250 of 
the Spanish sick and wounded are assisted 
and protected. The magnitude of this victory 
can hardly be measured by the ordinary 
standards of naval warfare. Outweighing any 
material advantage is the moral eftect of this 
initial siKcess. At this unsurpassed achieve- 
ment the great heart of our nation throbs, not 
with boasting or with greed of conquest, but 
with deep gratitude that this triumph has 
come in a just cause, and that by the grace of 
God an effective step has thus been taken to- 



ward the attainment of the wished-for 
peace. 

"To those whose skill, courage and devotion 
have won the fight, to the gallant commander 
and the brave officers and n^ien who aided him, 
our country owes an incalculable debt. Feel- 
ing as our people feel and speaking in their 
name I sent a message to Commodore Devvrey. 
thanking him and his officers and men for 
their splendid achievements and overwhelm- 
ing victory, ami informing him that I had ap- 
pointed him an acting rear-admiral. 

"I now recommend that, following our na- 
tional precedents and expressing the fervent 
gratitude of every patriotic heart, the thanks 
of Congress be given Acting Rear-Admiral 
George Dewey, of the United States Navy, 
for highly distinguished conduct in conflict 
with the enemy, and to the officers and men 
under his command for their gallantry in the 
destruction of the enemy's fleet and the cap- 
ture of the enemy's fortifications in the Bay 
of Manila. 

"William McKinley." 

"Executive Mansion, May 9, 1898." 



The Congress took irnniediate and unani- 
mous action in these words : 

"Rcsohcd, etc., That, in piu-suance of the 
recommendation of the President, made in ac- 
cordance with the provisions of section 1508 of 
the Revised Statutes, tlie thanks of Congress 
and of the American people are hereby ten- 
dered to Commodore George Dewey, U. S. N., 
Commander-in-chief of the United States 
naval force of the Asiatic squadron, for highly 
distinguished conduct in conflict with the 
enemy, as displayed by him in the destruction 
of the Spanish fleet and batteries in the har- 
bor of Manila, Philippine Islands, May i, 
1898. 

"Section 2. That the thanks of Congress 
and the American people are hereby extended, 
through Commodore Dewey, to the officers 
and men under his command for the gallantry 
and skill exhibited by them on that occasion. 

"Sec. 3. Be it further resolved. That the 
President of the United States be requested 
to cause this resolution to be communicated 
to Commodore Dewey, and through him to 
the officers and men under his command." 



A bill was also passed giving validity to the 
President's promotion of Commodore Dev,-ey 
to the rank of rear-admiral, and the Secre- 
tary of the Navy was authorized to present a 
sword of honor to Dewey and bronze medals 
for the officers and men of the ships which 
took part in the victory at ^lanila. 



I 



•f* •!• 



XI. 

Governor Roosevelt, then Assistant Secre- 
tary of the Navy, commented on the victory 
as follows : 

■'Admiral Dewey has won a victory greater 
thrtn any since Trafalgar, with the exception 
of Farragut's. It is one of the great sea 
fights of all time, and every American is his 
debtor. The chief thing that it shows is the 
absolute necessity, even with new engines of 
war themselves, to have the men in the con- 
ning towers and the men behind the guns 
trained to the highest possible point. Though 
the American fleet was superior to the Span- 
ish, yet the Spanish batteries and the danger 
of navigating the bay made the material odds 
against the Americans. Yet so cool and dar- 
ing was Dewey, so skillful his captains and so 
well-trained his gimners, that the Spaniards 
were smashed to atoms, while our people were 
practically unscratched. In fact the .Ameri- 
can fire was so overwhelming that it prac- 
tically paralyzed the Spaniards." 



Admiral Thomas Brand (retired), of the 
British navy, expressed himself as fol- 
lows : 

"Dewey's great victory at Manila was ad- 
mirably conceived and pluckily carried out," 
said the British admiral. "It will go down 
in history as one of the most brilliant victories 
in the naval history of the world. The Amer- 
ican commander not only showed remarkable 
courage in entering the harbor and tackling 
the enemy's ships in the midst of a harassing 
fire from the land fortifications, but he dem- 
onstrated the fact that his plans had been 
most perfectly laid, acid he had carefully ob- 
tained full particulars of the harbor naviga- 
tion before entering. Hitherto I had believed 
tlie United States warships to be of inferior 
quality, and I fully expected them to fail in 
some particulars when the crucial test came; 
but I am bound to say that I have changed 
my opinion, and from the showing of the 
American fleet so far, I am inclined to think 
it as good as any of its size in the world. 
That it is efficiently manned and commanded 
seems certain." 




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^^^^u^^g^U.^^ -^^=^7^^^...^ 



PRESIDENT, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ARMY AND NAVY U. 
Born Feb. 26th, 1844. 



S, A. 



James B. Eustis, ex- Ambassador of the 
United States to France, said : 

"One cannot calculate the enliancenient of 
American prestige and power that Dewey has 
brought about. He taught the European na- 
tions that if we can slaughter our pigs in 
peace, we can also slaughter our enemies in 
war. Our statesmen for a century have de- 
bated whether it was desirable for the United 
States to acquire territory. Admiral Dewey 
has settled the question." 

While thousands have publicly expressed 
their admiration of and gratitude toward the 
Hero of Manila, millions have echoed their 
sentiments. No individual of modern times 
has excited more world-wide appreciation. 
As the poet has put it : 

"Dewey was the morning, 
Dewey was the day, 
Dewey was the hero 
"Who ?ailed Manila Bay." 



xn. 

On May 7, after Dewey's first announce- 
ment of his victory, came a dispatch : 

"I control bay completely and can take city 
at any time, but I have not sufficient men to 
hold. . . . Will ammimition be sent? 

"Dewey." 

Secretary Long replied : 

"The 'Charleston' will leave at once with 
what ammunition she can carry. Pacific Mail 
Steamship Company's steamer 'Peking'' will 
follow with ammunition and supplies. Will 
take troops unless you telegraph otherwise. 
How many will you require?" 

Dewey answered : 

"I believe the Spanish Governor-General 
will be obliged to surrender soon. I can take 
Manila at any moment. To retain possession 
and thus control Philippine Islands would re- 
quire, in my best judgment, well equipped 
force of 5,000 men. . . . Spanish force is 
estimated 10,000 men. The rebels are re- 
port-ed 30,000. Dewey." 



In the weeks that followed the tact, 
diplomacy and dignified firmness of Dewey's 
character were displayed in his trying posi- 
tion before Manila while awaiting the arrival 
of the transports from the Pacific Coast. 

On August 13 Generals Greene and }vlac- 
Arthur marched into Manila, while Dewey, 
on tlie "Olympia," bombarded Fort San An- 
tonio. 

The white flag was shortly hoisted over 
Manila and the surrender of the Spanish ^vas 
complete, and on the evening of August 13 
the seat of Spanish power in the East was cap- 
tured, with 13,000 prisoners of war, 22,000 
small arms, hundreds of pieces of artillery, 
and a public fund of nearly a million dollars. 

On the afternoon of the day previous the 
formal act that ended hostilities took place at 
Washington, where the protocol had been 
signed by representatives of the governments 
of the United States and Spain. 

•?» wft* r)f« 

* V r 



XIII. 

On Decemljer lo the Peace Commission 
signed at Paris tlie treaty that, besides se- 
curing freedom for Cuba, wrested from Spain, 
forever, their colonial empire in the Philip- 
pines, and made true for the first time of the 
United States that proud assertion : "The sun 
never sets on our possessions." 

On Christmas Day, on board the flagship 
"Olympia," at Alanila, Admiral Dewey wrote 
a letter in which he expressed this sentiment : 

"On this day of good will and peace on 
earth I hope we may have no more wars; but 
if we should, may our patriotism inspire us 
to greater deeds of heroism." 

On February 5, 1899, Admiral Dewey sent 
the following cal>le to Washington : 

"Insurgents here inaugurated general en- 
gagement last night, which was continued to- 
day. The American army and navy were gen- 
erally successful. Insurgents have been driven 
back and our line advanced. No casualties to 
navy. Dewey." 



On February 9 he cabled : 

"After continued interference and intimi- 
dation of our workmen, I ordered armed in- 
surgents to leave San Roque by nine this 
morning. They left during the night, a few 
remaining, who burnt village this morning. It 
is now occupied by our troops. All quiet. 

"Dewey." 

Two days later : 

" 'Petrel' just arrived from Iloilo. That place 
taken by our force Saturday, and now occu- 
pied. No prisoners. No casualties on our 
side. Insurgent loss not known, but believed 
to be slight. They attempted to burn town, 
but foreign property generally saved by our 
force. Dewey." 



«£• «f* •^ 



XIV. 

On February 13 the Senate of the United 
States rewarded Dewey for his victory at Ma- 
nila Bay on May i, 1898, by passing a bill 
creating him an Admiral of the Navy, as fol- 
lows : 

"That the President is hereby authorized to 
appoint by selection antl promotion an Admi- 
ral of the Navy, who shall not be placed tipon 
the retired list except upon his own applica- 
tion ; and whenever such office shall be vacated 
by death or otherwise, the office shall cease to 
exist." 

President McKinley, after the passage of 
the bill in the House, appointed George Dewey 
Admiral of the Navv of the United States. 



•|» »J» 



■"So, mates, these words is all I've got to say, 
I says 'em, an' I means 'em, every one; 
They ain't no other man alive to-day 

Would tried to do wot Dewey tried an' done ; 
We knows it, us as sweat behind his guns; 

They knows it. them as writes the scroll of fame, 
An' w'en they tells o' heroes to our sons, 
'W'y, mates, they'll head the list with Dewey's 
name." 



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